When done right, bottom half guard can be a safe haven where the person on the bottom can withstand a crushing amount of pressure from their opponents with relative ease.  It can also serve as a sanctuary from which to focus all of...

When it comes to training or competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there are few cardinal sins worse than having your guard pass.  Your guard, or legs and hips is your first line of defense and if you're able to keep the enemy at...

At most academies, BJJ promotions can be few and far between.  Whether it is a stripe or a new belt, chances are you've put in a lot of work before you are considered for or rewarded with a promotion. It can take upwards...

Whether you are new to grappling or a seasoned veteran looking to add some new positions to your game, the half guard from the bottom can be a great addition to your guard game if it isn't already.  Once thought of as a...

As you begin to learn more techniques and apply them in live rolling and even on the competition mats early on, you will find yourself gravitating to certain techniques.  The reasons can vary as to why you gravitate to a specific position or...

Half guard is becoming popularized by jiu jitsu icons like Bernardo Faria and Tom DeBlass among others who have taken what was formerly a last ditch effort to stop someone from passing your guard, and developed entire offensive and defensive systems that have...

Have you ever asked your instructor how to to escape a certain position and without hesitation they say to you, "Don't get caught in (insert position)"?  As painful and callous as that response can seem at the time, there is a small element...

 The half guard is one of the first guards many bjj practitioners are introduced to.  Half guard has long been one of the most famous guards and has been proven effective at the highest levels of competition by the likes of Bernardo Faria,...

More and more people are stepping onto the BJJ academy mats.  People of all ages.  Jiu Jitsu is an amazing martial art where everyone, regardless of gender, age, or overall athletic prowess can start and with time, perseverance and relentless dedication, can ultimately...

In the journey to black belt, you will spend many, many hours and years on the mats honing your skills.  Over that time, many things can impact your ability to remain at the same BJJ academy or gym you may have started at. ...

Tis the Season!  Christmas is around the corner and many of us are guilty of putting off our holiday shopping until the last days! Stores are selling out, people are going crazy and gifts are getting harder to find.  Many of us have...

Tom DeBlass is one of the most beloved BJJ competitors, instructors and coaches out there today.  With a perfect blend of world class technique and instruction, along with life changing motivational wisdom and fitness advice, he currently finds himself sought for seminars and...

In this installment of the BJJ Fanatics Gift Guide, we want to explore the work of one of the most respected BJJ athletes and instructors in the history of the sport, Bernardo Faria.  Known worldwide for being one of the most approachable and...

Understanding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is so much more than being able to perform an almost endless array of techniques, it is being able to take this practical knowledge and develop a gameplan or pathway that allows you to progress your position and ultimately...

American Jiu Jitsu legend Rafael Lovato Jr. recently posted on social media that he and fellow black belt Tom DeBlass have been working on a potential match up sometime in 2018 with a February tentative date at the ADCC USA Open in Florida. ...